Infrastructure for Portable Cooler

ABSTRACT

A soft thermally insulated padded shell housing a rigid infrastructure with a series of horizontal shelves forming compartments which are vertically aligned, and includes a pair of opposing vertical and vented walls with shelve support brackets. The pair of vertical and vented walls has a paired series of mating horizontal tracks to receive horizontal slide-in shelves in a spaced vertical array. Each of the pair of tracks are horizontally aligned to form complementary ledges that receive and support the outer edges of the slide-in shelves. The shelves may be releasably attached within tracks of the side walls of the compartment, having snapping receptacles to ensure a snug fit. When the shelves are not in use as being placed within the receiving tracks, the space within the infrastructure is substantially unobstructed and can be used to store various items. Also, the infrastructure and insertable shelves are easily and conveniently removable so that the bag may be folded for storage. Narrow side compartments, immediately adjacent to the vertical, vented walls, house coolant containers. Further, the top section of the infrastructure has segmented compartments arrayed in a horizontal fashion to accommodate a variety of food supplements in pill and powder form. Separate from the rigid infrastructure, but adjoined to the soft thermal insulated padded shell, are other soft compartment housing beverage containers, fruit, silverware, and bulk protein powder storage.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This utility patent application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/273,499, filed on Aug. 5, 2009, which is wholly incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to portable, insulated, soft-shelled carrying devices useful for storing, conveying and serving food and beverages, and specifically to a soft-sided cooler assembly which has an insertable rigid frame infrastructure with compartments that hold slide-in shelves for individual meal containers. In addition, the invention provides for an internal venting system permitting coolant packets to convey colder temperatures to the individual meal containers contained within the central portion of the rigid infrastructure. Further, the top section of the infrastructure has segmented compartments arrayed in a horizontal fashion to accommodate a variety of food supplements in pill and powder form. Separate from the rigid infrastructure, but adjoined to the soft thermal insulated padded shell, are other soft compartments housing beverage containers, fruit, silverware, and bulk protein powder storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the work world of today, we have come a long way from carrying our lunch in a brown paper bag. Lunch pails and small coolers are widely popular means of carrying lunches. One of the major problems with current lunch pails and small coolers is that most of them have only a single carrying compartment without any sub-segmentation, thus making the contents stored therein difficult to organize and access. Further, many people would prefer to carry a meal plate or container, be it homemade or store bought, due to the availability of microwave ovens in work places. Such meal plates or containers can accommodate a complete array of foodstuffs for a balanced diet and proper apportionment for calorie-counting purposes. Most lunch pails and small coolers of today are not designed to carry such a meal plate or container, but rather random sandwiches, fruit, beverages, and a jumble of individual small packages.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The prior art patents have not adequately addressed the problems relating to providing a cost-effective, manufacturably-efficient, and user-friendly rigid, compartmentalized infrastructure which may be removeably inserted within soft-shelled insulated and portable carrying case.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,571, issued Dec. 1, 1998 to Rausch, describes a compartmentalized soft-sided container that includes a beverage compartment disposed in front of a warm compartment and a cool compartment. A pair of removable insulating interior walls are attachable to the interior of the container to divide the container into the individual compartments. The beverage compartment includes an adjustable closure that is capable of tightly securing differently-sized beverage containers by providing a flexible sheet having a drawstring that allows the height and opening of the closure to be adjusted. The drawstring may also be used to cinch about the neck of a beverage container to securely hold it in container. The container is also tapered such that compartments snugly retain articles such as soup bowls to prevent spilling.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,434, issued Sep. 2, 2003 to Redzisz, shows a sport tackle box bag for carrying multiple rectangular parallelepiped generally rigid tackle storage boxes. The box bag includes a lower section having a front flap for access to the lower section and an upper section having a top flap for access to the top section.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,537, issued May 20, 1997 to Sciacca, is for a compartmentalized box and a knapsack incorporating the same. The knapsack has straps allowing carrying of the compartmentalized box on a person's back. The compartmentalized box has columns formed of a plurality of panels for supporting a plurality of containers and for allowing the containers to be slid in and out of the compartmentalized box. Edgewise adjacent ones of the panels can be disconnected from each other and the panels rearranged to allow containers of differing sizes to be slid into the compartmentalized box so that the knapsack can be readily restocked with any desired arrangement of the containers.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,095, issued Apr. 4, 1995 to Melk, claims a flexible cooler with a removable insert, which is a thermally insulating carrier for preventing temperature change of heated or cooled items placed therein. The carrier includes a flexible bag-like container having a compartment therein and a generally rigid hollow tub-like liner member which is removably disposed in the compartment. The flexible container includes a side wall portion, a base portion, and a displaceable cover. At least the side wall portion and cover are constructed incorporating a flexible insulating material for providing an insulating effect. The side wall portion is joined with the base portion and together with the cover define the compartment. A container aperture is defined by a top edge of the side wall portion. A closing device is attached to the container aperture and a perimeter of the cover for releasably retaining the cover over the container aperture. The hollow liner is integrally formed of a rigid, waterproof, and shatterproof material with side portions joined to a bottom portion. A mouth is formed around the top of the liner and is coincident with the container aperture. The liner improves the thermal characteristics, provides structural support for the flexible container, and prevents leakage of moisture from the flexible container.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,900, issued Jun. 8, 1993 to Jones, discloses a soft-sided cooler that has a pivotably fastenable lid and a soft-sided coolant pack dimensioned to fit snugly within the underside region of the lid. The underside region is defined by a plurality of generally opposing, inwardly facing sidewalls that extend downward towards the cooler body for fastening thereto when the lid is closed. The cooling pack comprises a matrix of coolant cells integrally formed within a compliant plastic sheet, and inserted within a fabric envelope. The envelope, in turn, bears Velcro® fastening material which releasably retain the envelope within the underside of the lid by mating with Velcro® surfaces on at least a generally opposing pair of the sidewalls.

U.S. Pat. Application #20020084206, published Jul. 4, 2002 by Protopapas, depicts a lunch box that comprises a plurality of stackable, interchangeable food tray assemblies that have compartments in them for the storage of foodstuffs and other items. These stackable, interchangeable food tray assemblies are housed in an enclosure with a lid to protect the contents and a handle to provide ease of transport by the user. The lunch box can be made in a variety of sizes to accommodate the needs of the user and to fit within various size refrigerators. The lunch box can include locking features to hinder unauthorized access to the contents.

U.S. Patent Application #20070186579, published Aug. 16, 2007 by Barker, discloses a cooler assembly directed to the temperature management of the cooler's contents by focusing on the cooling, movement, pressure and/or moisture within the cooler. Insofar as the contents of a cooler generally includes, for example, food, beverages, and coolants, the Barker cooler assembly stores the food, beverages, and coolants in a manner that addresses cooling, reduce movement, relieve pressure and/or isolate moisture within the cooler.

The present invention is distinguished and advantageous over the prior art in general, and the above cited patents in particular, because it provides a convenient and organized meal management system within a soft-shell insulated cooler having an insertable frame infrastructure with compartments that hold slide-in individual trays to accommodate meal plates or meal containers, along with an variety of horizontally arrayed compartments for supplements, pills, and assorted small portions of powders. In addition, the present invention provides vented vertical walls for coolant packs. Further, there are adjoining soft-shelled chambers for beverages, fruits, silverware, and bulk protein powders.

OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

It is thus an object of the invention to provide an infrastructure that is insertable into the storage compartment of a soft-shell cooler, ice chest, or the like type storage article that includes a frame structure that can be configured by the user via removeably attachable shelves which are arrayed vertically to slide into a number of tracks for separating meal trays or containers from each other within the storage compartment.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cooler infrastructure system that includes a number of vertically stackable trays that slide into tracks embedded into a pair of vertical, vented side walls. These walls each contain a removable coolant pack that provides cooling to both the meal trays, and to the adjoining soft shell compartments containing beverages, fruit, and bulk protein powders.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a cooler insert system that includes an open-sided, main frame structure including an end wall with brackets for snapping the shelves into place, and with two vertically positioned opposed side walls each having vented openings formed there through, and with these two vertically opposed side walls having a plurality of tracks or grooved channels for receiving removable shelves. On top, there is top tray of horizontally arrayed compartments with a snap fit, hinged panel that can cover the top tray to prevent loss of the supplement pills and other contents contained within the top tray's horizontally arrayed compartments. Further, the vertically arrayed opposed pair of walls are vented to enable coolant packets contained therein to convey cool temperature to the meal trays positioned on the shelves.

A full front zippered insulated opening enables full access to the contents for sliding food tray containers in and out.

A top zippered insulated opening enables full access to the hinged snapping cover for the top tray of horizontally arrayed compartments, and to the insertable coolant packs.

Zippered side access pockets on either side of the soft shell container provide access to closed storage compartments for eating utensils, napkins, beverage containers or other items.

An advantage of the present invention is that it improves the organizational management of the contents and stores the food, beverages, and coolants in a manner that would improve cooling and reduce undesired movement of the contents therein.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a cooler with the ability to separate and carry individual meals for people who need to eat frequently, such as weight lifters, dieters, or to provide separate meals for a family outing.

One more advantage of the present invention is that it provides framed separations between the meal containers, beverage containers, and coolant containers to separate them and prevent them from pressing on each other.

An additional advantage of the present invention is that it provides complete venting throughout the interior of the cooler for proper cooling of all the contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The presently claimed invention achieves the advantages and objectives recited hereinabove, by providing a removable cooler infrastructure system comprising: a) an open-sided, main frame structure including a back wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and two opposed side walls, said two opposed side walls having a plurality of horizontally paired guiding tracks, arrayed vertically, and extending from the fore of the opposed side walls to the back wall, each pair of guiding tracks capable of accommodating a removeably insertable shelf; b) a top tray, resting on the upward exterior of the top wall, comprising a horizontal array of compartments for storage of supplement pills, nuts, dried fruit, and the like; and, c) two cooler packs, each of said cooler packs being nestled within the outwardly exterior confines of each of the two side walls of the infrastructure system.

In another embodiment of the present invention, main frame structure of the cooler infrastructure system further comprises molded plastic construction, and each of said shelves comprises molded plastic construction.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooler infrastructure system further comprises being surrounded by a main central compartment comprising: soft padded thermally insulated fabric; hard-shell thermally insulated plastic.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooler infrastructure system further comprises said main central compartment being laterally adjoined by a side compartment on either end of the main central compartment, said side compartment comprising: a removeably insertable divider made of soft padded thermally insulated fabric and having a Velcro® attachment to the interior side walls of the side compartment.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooler infrastructure system further comprises the main central compartment having a front cover panel, extending over the majority of external forward-facing area of the central main compartment, said front cover panel comprising: being adapted for opening to access the interior of the main central compartment and the cooler infrastructure residing therein; being adapted for closing with an airtight seal using a zipper, mating hook and loop fasteners or other means around the two sides and the bottom edge with the bottom edge sewn to the bottom ridge of the main central compartment to form a flexibly hinged connection enabling the front cover panel to open downwardly.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooler infrastructure system further comprises said main central compartment and said side compartments including: the outer soft shell container has a nylon outer layer; a padded layer of thermal insulation material, such as a thermal foam, an inner PVC backed foil lining, or colored PVC.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are given the same or analogous reference numbers and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the cooler infrastructure system of the present invention showing the main open sided, frame structure including four of nine potential shelves with corresponding tracks or guide channels; the snap fit, hinged frame top panel which fits on top of the side walls or side panels.

FIG. 2A is a frontal view of the vented back wall or panel, with four of the shelves, and the top panel housing the horizontal array of compartments.

FIG. 2B is a frontal view of one of the vented side walls or panels, showing the tracks or guide channels for shelving, and the top panel housing the horizontal array of compartments.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the cooler soft shell, inclusive of the infrastructure system in the main central compartment, with two side compartments.

FIGS. 3B, 3C, and 3D are frontal views of an exemplary embodiment of the cooler soft shell, inclusive of the infrastructure system in the main central compartment, with two side compartments. In the central compartment are sample food storage containers of varying sizes, depending on the number and spacing of the shelvings.

FIG. 4A is a second perspective view of the exemplary cooler infrastructure system of FIG. 3A with a number of supplement, food and drink items inserted into the compartments of the soft shell cooler structure and holding cavities of the stackable shelves.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing the cooler infrastructure system of FIG. 4A in a exploded view with insertable items delineated according to their respective compartments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may be described herein in terms of various functional elements as depicted in the attached drawings, configurations and described embodiments. It should be appreciated that such functional elements may be realized by any number of similar elements configured according to this invention to perform the specified functions. Thus, it should be appreciated that the particular implementations shown and described herein are illustrative of the invention and its preferred mode and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Indeed, for the sake of brevity, conventional elements of a soft shell cooler or of a rigid plastic infrastructure may not be described in detail herein. Furthermore, the various figures contained herein are intended to represent illustrative functional embodiments of the invention, and that many alternative or equivalent configurations, elements, and structures are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. It should further be noted that the order of the elements in the attached drawings, specification and claims are not intended as limitations and the drawings, specification and claims may be configured in other orders without deviating from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

It is noted that the embodiment of the cooler infrastructure system described hereinbelow in detail for exemplary purposes is of course subject to many different variations in structure, design, application and methodology. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept(s) herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiment herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

FIG. 1 is an illustrative depiction of the rigid infrastructure system 23 designed to fit within the main central compartment of the soft shell cooler. The infrastructure system 23 comprises two side walls 8, each having vented perforations 4 to permit the cooling air from the coolant pack 20 (as seen in FIG. 4A), which is positioned within spacing 3 on either side of shelving 6. The shelves 6 can be slide into guiding tracks 5, and will snap into place within snap fit structure 7. A plurality of shelves 6 can fit within infrastructure system 23, herein depicted with spacing for up to nine shelves 6. On top of the infrastructure system 23 is positioned a top tray 24 with a cover 1 which can be snap fit closed 25 and can be opened via hinged connectors 2.

Thus, it can be seen from the preceding description of FIG. 1, that a cooler infrastructure system has been provided that is insertable into the storage compartment of a cooler, ice chest, or the like type storage article that includes a frame structure that can be configured by the user into a number of infrastructure compartments for separating various items from each other within the storage compartment; that includes a number of stackable shelves 6 that each include a holding cavity that is bordered by placing another stackable tray on top; and that includes an open-sided, main frame infrastructure 23 including an end wall 9 and two opposed side walls 8, the end wall 9 and the two opposed side walls 8 each having vented openings 10 and 4, respectively, formed there through. The number of vertically stackable shelves 6 are positionable within a main infrastructure system 23 compartment, each stackable shelf 6 having a holding cavity defined therein that is accessible through an frontal access opening and a lower registration protrusion 28 extending from the bottom thereof; the registration protrusion being sized and shaped to snap fit into the access opening 7.

FIG. 2A is illustrative of a frontal perspective of the rear wall 9 of the infrastructure system 23, wherein it connects with the pair of side walls 8, and wherein it supports the top tray 24 itself having cover 1. The rear wall 9 is seen with four shelves 6 viewable from the front. The rear wall 9 is configured with vented with slivered holes 10 for air circulation to cool the meal containers 15 (seen in FIG. 3B).

FIG. 2B is illustrative of a frontal perspective of one of the side walls 8 of the infrastructure 23, wherein it supports the top tray 24 itself having cover 1. The side wall 8 is seen with nine guiding tracks 5 viewable from the side. The side wall 8 is configured with vented with holes 4 for air circulation to cool the meal containers 15 (seen in FIG. 3B).

FIG. 3A is illustrative of a perspective of the soft shell cooler having a main central chamber wherein is housed the infrastructure system 23, having a flexible front closure flap 14 composed of a soft padded thermally insulated fabric. Also depicted are four shelves 6, which are shown in varying phases of slidable insertion into the infrastructure system 23. Also depicted are the two side chambers 17, each having a flexible closure flap, items 11A and 11B respectively, composed of a soft padded thermally insulated fabric. The side chambers 17 adjoin the main central chamber 29, itself having opening front flap 14 comprised of a soft padded thermally insulated fabric. Also depicted is a shoulder strap 13 and a side pouch 21 for accommodating a cell phone, keys, and the like (not shown).

In a preferred embodiment, proper insulation is used, as is known in the art, comprising: the outer soft shell container has a nylon outer layer; a padded layer of thermal insulation material, such as a thermal foam, an inner PVC backed foil lining, or colored PVC (not shown). The shell has a front opening 14 extending over the entire front of the central main chamber 29 of the shell. The front cover panel 14 is adapted for opening to access the interior of the shell and adapted for closing with an airtight seal using a zipper, mating hook and loop fasteners or other means around the two sides and the bottom edge with the bottom edge sewn to the bottom ridge of the shell to form a flexible hinge-type connection to enable the panel 14 to open downwardly, as shown in FIG. 3A, allowing complete access to the interior. The front cover panel 14 covers the entire front opening of the main central chamber 29.

FIG. 3B depicts a frontal view of the soft shell container 26, showing the individual meal compartments 15, each residing on a shelf 6 in the central main chamber 29, having the infrastructure system 23 with two opposing side walls 8. Also depicted are the two side compartments 17, with top soft insulated flaps 11A and 11B, respectively, sealed via zipped closures 27. Also depicted is a means for carrying the device, preferably as a shoulder strap 13.

FIG. 3C and FIG. 3D are illustrative of similar depictions of the invention as FIG. 3B, with the exception that they use only two shelves 6, variably spaced in a vertical array to accommodate differing sized meal containers 15.

FIG. 4A is illustrative of a perspective of the invention, wherein the top, front and sides are viewable. The top tray 24 is visible with its cover 1 extended backwards for an unobstructed view of the contents of the top tray 24. Within the top tray 24 is seen an a series of horizontally arrayed compartments for storing supplement pills, dried fruit, nuts, and other smaller items. Exterior to the cover 1 is an external panel 12 which is sewn to the top ridge of the shell to form a flexible hinge-type connection to enable the panel 12 to open upwardly, as shown in FIG. 4A, allowing complete access to the covering 1 of the top tray 24. Adjacent to either side of the top tray 24, and extending vertically downward, are two cooling packs 20, which are nestled within side exterior of the opposing side walls 8. The side compartments 17 comprise cavities for beverage containers, fruit, utensils, bulk protein powder containers, and the like. In addition, the side compartments 17 comprise internal partitions 19 which are removeably secured within side compartments 17 via vertically aligned seams of Velcro® (e.g., hook and loop fasteners). The side compartments 17 have top closure flaps 11A and 11B, respectively, which are sealed via zipper closures 27. External to the side compartment 17 is an external pouch 21, for accommodating keys, a watch, a cell phone, and the like. The main central chamber 29, itself has an opening front flap 14 comprised of a soft padded thermally insulated fabric. Within the central chamber 29 are a series of food containers 15 vertically stacked via shelves 6. Each of the series of shelves 6 and the vertical walls 8 is formed of a rigid material to prevent containers in one compartment from pressing against containers in adjacent compartments.

In use, as seen in FIG. 4B, the front opening 14 opens all the way to expose the main central chamber 29 such that the infrastructure system 23 can be inserted within and removed from the soft shell container 26, along with insertion and removal of the coolant packs 20, and individual meal containers 15. Further, the external, forward facing surface of the soft shell container 26 may include an alarm 22 for multiple meal reminders, calorie counting, and the like. In FIG. 1, the front opening 14 may be zipped closed and the strap 13 slung over the shoulder for carrying the soft shell container 26.

Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently illustrated embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of this invention should be considered in light of the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”

It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a particular system and method for its use, it will be appreciated that various modifications of the apparatus and method are possible without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims set forth below. 

1. A removable cooler infrastructure system comprising: a) an open-sided, main frame structure including a back wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and two opposed side walls, said two opposed side walls having a plurality of horizontally paired guiding tracks, arrayed vertically, and extending from the fore of the opposed side walls to the back wall, each pair of guiding tracks capable of accommodating a removeably insertable shelf; b) a top tray, resting on the upward exterior of the top wall, comprising a horizontal array of compartments for storage of supplement pills, nuts, dried fruit, and the like; and c) two cooler packs, each of said cooler packs being nestled within the outwardly exterior confines of each of the two side walls of the infrastructure system.
 2. The cooler infrastructure system of claim 1 wherein: said main frame structure comprises molded plastic construction.
 3. The cooler infrastructure system of claim 1 wherein: each of said shelves comprises molded plastic construction.
 4. The cooler infrastructure system of claim 1, further including: being surrounded by a main central compartment comprising: soft padded thermally insulated fabric; hard-shell thermally insulated plastic.
 5. The cooler infrastructure system of claim 4, wherein: said main central compartment is laterally adjoined by a side compartment on either end of the main central compartment, said side compartment comprising: a removeably insertable divider made of soft padded thermally insulated fabric and having a Velcro® attachment to the interior side walls of the side compartment.
 6. The cooler infrastructure system of claim 4, wherein: said main central compartment comprises a front cover panel, extending over the majority of external forward-facing area of the central main compartment, said front cover panel comprising: being adapted for opening to access the interior of the main central compartment and the cooler infrastructure residing therein; being adapted for closing with an airtight seal using a zipper, mating hook and loop fasteners or other means around the two sides and the bottom edge with the bottom edge sewn to the bottom ridge of the main central compartment to form a flexibly hinged connection enabling the front cover panel to open downwardly.
 7. The cooler infrastructure system of claim 5, wherein: said main central compartment and said side compartments comprise: the outer soft shell container has a nylon outer layer; a padded layer of thermal insulation material, such as a thermal foam, an inner PVC backed foil lining, or colored PVC. 